New Florida election laws in effect today

[Thom Little]

Early voting hours will be cut and the spending limit for candidates for governor will more than triple -- to $20 million -- under a revamp of the state election law that takes effect today.

Democrats and government watchdogs charge the public had little opportunity to understand some of the election changes before the Legislature approved them last spring.

But Republican legislative leaders said the new voting rules will bring uniformity to the state's 67 counties and the increased spending limits are a reflection of financial reality.

The election changes are among a few new laws taking effect today. Others include an end to runoff primaries, a ban on lobbyist gift-giving to legislators and state officials, a requirement that lobbyists report how much they are paid, and the continued phase-out of the intangibles tax on investments, including stocks and bonds.

.......

"Early voting is a tremendous opportunity to increase accessibility and turnout," said Sen. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, a sponsor of the original law to allow early voting. "Even with long lines, it was wildly successful. The Legislature should be doing everything it can to create consistency but with more accessibility, not less."


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-fnewlaws01jan01,0,6417162.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[rpannier]

1. What's Sen Ron Klein D-Roca Baton Thinking?

Increase accessibility? Didn't he learn from 2000? The Republicans are all about decreasing participation and accessibility.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Kerry beat Bush in the Early Voting

We can't let that happen again, now can we?

[flordehinojos]

3. even after they are dead and buried the evil power and control bushes want

to control our voting and who gets in and who stays out.

[Wilms]

4. kick n/t